A. Introduction to the Massachusetts Court System
B. The Supreme Judicial Court
           1. Introduction
           2. A Brief History
3. The Justices
           4. The Court's Departments
C. The Appeals Court
           1. Introduction
           2. A Brief History
           3. The Justices
D. The Administrative Office of the Trial Court
E. The Trial Courts
F. An Overview of the Trial Process
G. An Overview of the Appellate Process
H. The Social Law Library
I. Footnotes

The Massachusetts Judicial System

Administrative Office of the Trial Court

Official Website of the Massachusetts Trial Court

This office, led by the Chief Justice for Administration and Management (CJAM), handles administrative functions of the Massachusetts Trial Court, including court capital and facilities projects, fiscal affairs, human resources, information technology, education and training, legal issues, planning and development, and security. The CJAM manages and administers the seven trial departments (see Section E, below), and has direct supervisory authority over the Office of the Commissioner of Probation and the Office of the Jury Commissioner.

Office of the Commissioner of Probation:

This office supervises the Massachusetts Probation Service, which assists in the delivery of justice through investigations, community supervision of offenders, diversion of appropriate offenders from institutional sentences, reduction in crime, mediations, service to victims, and other community service functions. The office also oversees the Office of Community Corrections.

Office of the Jury Commissioner:

This office oversees the selection and management of all jurors in the Commonwealth until they appear at the courthouse. The office is responsible for the daily supervision of the nation's first one-day/one-trial jury system, in which jurors complete service in one day or serve for the duration of a single trial. Fifty-eight jury pool locations throughout the Commonwealth are supplied daily with jurors.